Brassiere



March 6, 1956 I L ETAL BRASSIERE Filed April 14, 1955 I N] 'E NTORS 150/144 [4x [ha/925s #092145 United States Patent BRASSIERE and Charles W. Hine, Pine Leona Lax, New Haven,

Inc., a corporation Orchard, Conn., assignors to Sarong, of Connecticut The invention relates to a brassiere having improved functional characteristics, and at the same time presenting an attractive appearance.

The construction embodies the features of independently formed preshaped breast pocket parts which are embodied into a brassiere having in the front a pair of crossed bands which are connected to the respective pockets in a particular manner the bands having inclined bottom edges which are free to move relative to each other. A side section is connected to the outer edge of each pocket and to the end of the corresponding band the side sections extending around for connection at the back. A. shoulder strap is connected preferably to the upper edge of each pocket.

The construction comprises an arrangement in the nature of a substantially balanced three directional support for each pocket, and each. pocket is capable of a substantial amount of movement relative to the other. The combination including the crossed bands with free edges is such that the garment is capable of automatically adjusting itself to a large degree to the body parts and in general comprises a brassiere which performs the desired supporting functions but is exceptionally comfortable.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation ofelcments which will be exemplified in the brassiere hereinafter described, and the scope of which invention will be indicated in the claims.

Reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of the brassiere in open distended condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the two bands of material which are assembled in crossed relation in the brassiere; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the central portion of the brassiere showing the free independent movement of the bottom edges of the crossed bands.

As shown in the drawings the brassiere includes two shaped breast pocket or cup portions and 11. Referring to the pocket 10 e. g. the desired cup shape and fullness may be obtained by preforming it of two pieces 12 and 13 the upper piece 12 when in flat condition prior to assembly being of a generally right angle form and the lower portion 13 being generally four sided with the two side edges 13a and 13b adapted to be stitched into the generally right angle edge of the upper piece 12. The

pocket 11 is of course similarly shaped.

Connected to the lower inner edge of each pocket is a band of tapered construction, these bands being shown at 14 and 15 in flat plan in Figure 2 prior to assembly into the brassiere. The band 14 is sewn at its wider end to the pocket 10 and similarly band 15 is sewn at its wider end to the pocket 11 in reverse relation. The upper edge of band 14 is also sewn to the bottom edge of pocket 11 and the band 15 is similarly attached to pocket 10. The brassiere includes side sections 16 and 17 stitched to the outer edge of the respective pocket including the narrow end of the respective band 14 or 15. The sections 16 and 17 are of course intended to extend around and be connected at the back of the wearer and forthis purpose may have secured thereto tape members 18 and 19 provided at their outer ends with complementary fastener elements 20 and 21. The sections 16 and 17 are preferably of elastic material, stretchable at least in the body encircling direction. A shoulder strap 22, 23 is connected to the respective pocket at the upper apex thereof with the opposite end of the respective strap attached to the outer end of the corresponding section 16 or 17. Reinforcing tapes may be sewn into the scams or edges wherever it appears desirable dependent upon the material employed. Such tapes are indicated at. 14 and 25 in Figure 3 applied to the lower edges of bands 14 and 15.

Vertical stays 26 and 27 are preferably secured in appropriate pockets at the seam between the outer sections 16 and 17 and the corresponding pocket as indicated particularly in Figure 3.

The crossed bands 14 and 15, as incorporated in the brassiere, comprise an important feature thereof. It will be noted, particularly as indicated in Figure 3, that the lower edges of the bands are unconnected and freely movable relative to each other. That is, they may partake'of a relative sliding movement or lateral movement or both. The arrangement permits a substantial amount of independent movement of the two breast pockets relative to each other and each lower band 14 and 15 may automatically and independently adjust itself to the body parts including the shapes and contours resulting from the breast bone and the respective lower rib parts. capacity for independent movement between thev two bands and the respective pockets may be enhanced if desired by making the bands of elastic material in whole or in part.

in general the garment embodies a balanced three-directional supporting arrangement for each breast pocket. Referring to Figure 1, for example, the pocket 10 is held and supported in the main by three radial supporting means the lines of force being in accordance with the three arrows shown, that is the arrow 30 corresponding to the shoulder strap 22, the arrow 31 indicating the pull through the section 16 and the arrow 32 indicating the pull through the band 14. Therefore, each pocket has three peripherally spaced major supporting elements which insure that the pocket will be maintained in proper position and the corresponding breast properly supported. Despite this definite supporting of the breasts the pockets permit substantial movement thereof relative to each other as one shoulder is moved relative to the other, for example, or various relative movements occur in the normal shifting and twisting of the body. It may be noted also that the pull exerted by the band 14 and section 16 in the case of pocket 10, and similarly in the case of pocket 11, are each distributed over a considerable width as distinguished from being concentrated at a narrow band or point.

In various previous brassiere constructions attempts have been made to provide a construction permitting independent movement of the breast pockets. Typically such constructions have included the feature of forming a deep V or slit between the pockets such that the connection between the two was very low and commonly comprised a narrow band and tended toward loss of control of the breasts. In the present construction it will be noted that although the pockets are to a considerable extent independent of each other, there is nevertheless ample breadth of support and connection.

In the present construction it may be noted also that the bands 14 and 15 conform to and lie flat against the body and provide greater comfort as compared with a brassiere having a single continuous narrow strip at the bottom extending under tension across the front tending to cut into and chafe the body.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A brassiere embodying a pair of preshaped breast pocket parts adjacently arranged forming a V therebetween, a side section connected to the outer edge of each said pocket portion, a pair of crossed bands at the bottom in the front, one band having an inner end connected by a seam to the lower inner edge portion of a first one of said pockets from the point of said V around to the bottom of the pocket and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the corresponding side section and having a top edge curved concavely downwardly and sewed to the bottom of the other pocket along a correspondingly curved seam, and the other band similarly having an inner end connected by a seam to the lower inner edge portion of said other pocket from the point of said V around to the bottom of the pocket and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the other side section and having a top edge curved concavely downwardly and sewed to the bottom of said first pocket along a correspondingly curved seam, said bands having lower crossed edges inclined upwardly from the side to the respective connection to the opposite pocket and said crossed edges being unconnected and free to move relative to each other.

2. A brassiere embodying right and left breast pockets, a right and a left side section connected respectively to the outer edge of the corresponding said pockets, a pair of crossed bands located below said pockets one band having an inner end connected by a seam to the inner edge portion of the right pocket and continuing down and around to the bottom thereof but terminating short of the right side section and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the left side section and having a top edge stitched to the bottom edge of the left pocket, the other band having an inner end connected by a seam to the inner edge of the left pocket and continuing down and around to the bottom thereof but terminating short of the left side section and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the right side section and having a top edge stitched to the bottom edge of the right pocket, said bands each having its lower edge inclined upwardly from the corresponding side section to the 0pposite pocket said lower edges crossing and being unconnected and free to move relative to each other.

3. A brassiere embodying a pair of breast pockets adjacentiy arranged, a side section connected to the outer edge of each said pockets, a pair of crossed bands located below said pockets each being wider at one end than the other, one band having its wider end connected by a seam to the lower inner edge portion of a first one of said pockets and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the corresponding side section and having a top edge sewed to the bottom of the other pocket, and the other band similarly having its wider end connected by a seam to the lower inner edge portion of said other pocket and extending across the front with the outer end stitched to the other side section and having a top edge sewed to the bottom of said first pocket, said bands having lower crossed edges extending from the corresponding side section at the smaller end of the band upwardly and across to the bottom edge of the opposite pocket at a point spaced from the opposite side section said breast pockets being free of connection at the bottom of the front other than by said bands and said crossed edges being unconnected and free to move relative to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,239,056 Schiffer Apr. 22, 1941 2,445,322 Fridolph July 20, 1948 2,471,670 Becker et al May 31, 1949 2,585,137 Kurland Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,010,621 France Mar. 26, 1952 

